Goldstein



March 10, 1964 A. GOLDSTEIN ILLUMINATION DIFFUSER CONSTRUCTION FiledSept. 8, 1958 United States Patent 3,124,308 ILLUMINATION DIFFUSERCGNSTRUCTION Arnold Goldstein, 3363 Trexler Blvd, Allentown, Pa. FiledSept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,712 2 Qlaims. (Cl. filth-46AM) Thisinvention relates generally to the field of illumination and moreparticularly to an improved diffuser construction and means and methodsof making the same.

It is desirable under different lighting conditions to prevent personsfrom directly viewing an intense source of illumination and for thispurpose it is known to partially enclose a source of illumination and toprovide a grid or grating at the opening, such grid or grating acting asa shield which allows lightrays to go in a predetermined direction andobstructs their passage in other directions in order to get goodresults. Because of the complex structure involved, it is known to moldthe same of synthetic resin but such structures involve relatively highmold costs, high material cost and when the parts are thick enough to bephysically strong, they tend to obstruct the passage of light.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide new anduseful diffuser construction in which relatively thin material may beused and yet which has the required physical stability even under theinfluence of the heat.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the classdescribed which may be used with standard reflectors or enclosuresrequiring no special structure for the retention thereof.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claims:

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views of each embodiment.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the device ofFIGURE 1 installed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen fromthe plane 33 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of one of the radial members enlarged fromFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken from the plane 5-5 on FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a step in the processof manufacturing the second embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view partly in section showing a secondembodiment of the invention as installed.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 8-8 on FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an elevation of one of the radial members of the secondembodiment.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view as seen from the plane Iii-1t? on FIGURE9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective View of a cushioned gripping member.

Turning to the first embodiment of the invention, the diffusing devicegenerally indicated by reference character 19 comprises broadly aplurality of radial members 12, upper and lower support members 14 and16 and a bracing member 18.

Since the radial members 12 are substantially identical, a detaileddescription of one will suflice for all. As seen in FIGURE 4, the radialmember is preferably formed by being bent from a fiat strip to have astraight shank portion 2% and a curved portion 21. The portion 12 mayhave a so-called inner end 22 while the portion 21 may have an outer end23. While the radial members may be made of any suitable material, Ihave found them to be most useful when they are made of strip thin steelfor some resiliency and provided with a white exterior coa mg.

The upper and lower support members are preferably identical and thesemay be in the form of an annular ring. While shown in FIGURE 3 as beingcircular in cross section, as for example, formed from round wire, othercross sectional shapes may be used. The upper and lower support members14 and 16 are rigidly connected to the upper and lower edges 25 and 26of the radial members 12 preferably by welding. While the supportmembers 14 and 16 are shown as contacting the edges 25 and 26, it willbe apparent that where sufficient heat and pressure are used in thewelding process, said support members will be pressed down into theedges 25 and 26 to deform the same thereat. See dot-dash lines (FIG. 3).

The bracing member 18 may be used where additional rigidity in thecentral portion of the device is desired and the same may be a ringgenerally comparable to the upper support member 14 but of greaterdiameter.

Turning to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen by the full lines in FIGURE1 that by virtue of the construction and arrangement of the parts, theends 23 may be pressed radially inward to flex and take the positionindicated by the dot-dash lines on FIGURE 1. Thus, for example, inFIGURE 2 the light source 11 may have the shade 13 of a cylindricalshape with a bottom opening 30. The effective internal diameter of theshade 13 is less than the normal relaxed position of the radial members12 as shown on FIGURE 1. It becomes a simple matter to rotate the device10 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 and tosimiultaneously press the same into the shade 13. The radial membersflex inward and their resiliency causes them to press outward againstthe inner surface of the lamp shade 13 thereby holding the device It inplace frictionally. Since there is only a frictional engagement betweenthe diffuser and the shade, it will be seen that the diffuser may beshifted to optimum position with respect to the shade and the lightsource. Also, the diffuser having each of the radial membersindependently resiliently shiftable, will conform to irregularities inthe shape of the shade.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, for the purposeof avoiding needless repetition, certain of the parts corresponding tothose of the first described embodiment are given the same referencecharacters with the addition of the prefix 2. The second embodimentdifiers from the first embodiment principally in that the radial membershave a curved cross section (FIGURE 10) as contrasted with the straightcross section of the rst embodiment (FIGURE 5); the bracing member isomitted; and certain of the outer ends 23 are provided with cushionedgripping members 235.

By the use of strips which form the radial members 212 which have acurved cross section, lighter weight material may be used while stillpreserving adequate stability and resiliency. The curved surfaces alsoprovide greater light diffusion since their surfaces produce reflectionswhich are interior to the lamp shade 213.

As will be seen in'FIGURE 7 the opening 230 is bounded by an inwardlycurved edge 231 which has a latching effect when it coacts with theexpansive action of the ends 223. The cushioned gripping members 235,are preferably composed of resilient synthetic resin such as, forexample, vinyl copolymer, polyethylene, or similar rubbery material.They are in the form of hollow cups having an outer surface 237 and aninner surface 238. The members 235 are preferably a snug fit on the ends3 223 and they are preferably applied to provide three or four pointsuspension by applying the members 235 to selected tip ends 223. Themembers 235 produce a more stable engagement and tend to preventabrasion by the ends 223 upon the inner surface of the shade 2113.

Turning to FIGURE 6, one method of producing an article such as thesecond embodiment is shown. A female jig 340 includes a base 341; a baseplate 342 and a plurality of irregularly shaped dividing supports 343.The supports preferably conform to the shape of the radial members 312and hold them in position during assembly.

In the assembly operation, the lower support member 316 is dropped intoplace between the innermost faces of the dividing supports 343. Next,the complement of radial members 312 is put into place. Following this,the upper support member 314 is dropped down upon the upper edges of theradial members and between the inner faces of the supports 343. Finally,a male die member 345 is pressed downward by the ram 346 and weldingcurrent from a suitable source 347 travels via the conductors 348 and349 to be applied to the support members 314 and 316. Since the greatestresistance to the passage of the current occurs at the junctures betweenthe support members 314 and 316 and the edges of the radial memberswelding takes place thereby unifying the structure. The supports arepreferably composed of nonconducting material or are preferablyinsulated from the radial members.

While I have illustrated the present devices as being round in exteriorconfiguration, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to whichthe present invention relates that the general exterior configurationmay be changed while using the same general organization and arrangementof parts.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifica 4 tions will occur to those skilledin the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. In a combination louver and lamp shade having an opening for theemission of light rays of fixed dimension, said louver being resilientlymaintained within said opening, the improvement comprising: said louverincluding a centrally disposed circular support member; a plurality ofradial members, each having a substantially inner straight shank portionand an outer curved portion, curved longitudinally thereof, with anouter end; said straight shank portions being connected to said circularsupport member; said outer curved portions being of substantiallyarcuate shape with the convex surfaces thereof outwardly disposed,whereby the convex surfaces of said outer ends may engage the innersurface of said lamp shade within said opening said outer ends beingspaced at substantially equal intervals about the inner periphery ofsaid lamp shade.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in theprovision of cushioned gripping members in the form of a hollow cup ofresilient material positioned upon the outer ends of said radialmembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,053,321 Schrock Feb. 18, 1913 1,453,873 Hicks May 1, 1923 2,017,431Anderson et al. Oct. 15, 1935 2,298,556 Foss et al Oct. 13, 19422,335,181 Heath Nov. 23, 1943 2,437,522 Handler Mar. 9, 1948 2,538,357Eggleston Jan. 16, 1951 2,765,400 Scherer Oct. 2, 1956 2,777,940 Spiroet al Ian. 15, 1957 2,841,697 Smith July 1, 1958 2,906,864 BoutelleSept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 549,152 France Nov. 13, 1922

1. IN A COMBINATION LOUVER AND LAMP SHADE HAVING AN OPENING FOR THEEMISSION OF LIGHT RAYS OF FIXED DIMENSION, SAID LOUVER BEING RESILIENTLYMAINTAINED WITHIN SAID OPENING, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID LOUVERINCLUDING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OFRADIAL MEMBERS, EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY INNER STRAIGHT SHANK PORTIONAND AN OUTER CURVED PORTION, CURVED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, WITH ANOUTER END; SAID STRAIGHT SHANK PORTIONS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCULARSUPPORT MEMBER; SAID OUTER CURVED PORTIONS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLYARCUATE SHAPE WITH THE CONVEX SURFACES THEREOF OUTWARDLY DISPOSED,WHEREBY THE CONVEX SURFACES OF SAID OUTER ENDS MAY ENGAGE THE INNERSURFACE OF SAID LAMP SHADE WITHIN SAID OPENING SAID OUTER ENDS BEINGSPACED AT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL INTERVALS ABOUT THE INNER PERIPHERY OFSAID LAMP SHADE.